Wednesday, 24 February 2010

Searching for the True Religion? Part III

ConsistencyBecause a Holy Book is revealed from God, then one should not findi nconsistency or contradictions in the scripture. There should not be any error or even a claim of error associated with the HolyBooks...

With the Qur’an there is not a single inconsistency in the whole text. Even the ayat that describe the scientific miracles of the Qur’an were shown to be accurate and explain the known facts of our present day precisely.Problems and QuestionsThere are two items to deal with – contradictions and miracles of science.

First, contradictions and errors in the Qur’an.?

There are a number of egregious errors in the Qur’an.? There are errors of history, there are errors of science, and there are contradictions in the Qur’an itself.

One example of an error of history relates to Mohammed’s use of the story of the youth in the cave who slept for 300 years or so.This was a story that circulated among Christians before Mohammed and he plagiarized it for his own purposes. The original story related that the youth were surprised that Jesus was still preached as the Son of God. Mohammed used the story and concluded that Jesus was not the Son of God. Mohammed’s followers did not have a basis for refuting his use of the story. In this case Mohammed took a myth and claimed it to be a fact. In the Muslim view of the crucifixion of Jesus, Mohammed rejected a fact and called it a lie.

The Qur’an claims the sun sets in a poodle of water in one place. (18:86 Pickthall)

There are claims by Muslims that scientific miracles were predicted in the Qur’an inspite of Mohammed’s claim that he wa sonly a warner.

The ProphetThe character of the prophet on whom the revelation was revealed should be impeccable before the revelation. His life should be documented before and after the revelation to confirm tha the was honest and truth. He should not have bowed to anyone else before God.”Problems and QuestionsLet us start with the exact history. The exact history of Christianity is that Jesus claimed to be the Son of God. He indicated many times that he was going to be crucified and would rise again from the dead. He did this. There were eye-witnesses and they wrote about it in the Gospels.

Muslims deny these facts because a man named Mohammed did not believe it although he lived about 600 years later.

The Bible speaks of Jesus being sinless. Mohammed prayed for forgiveness.Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah's Apostle used to keep silent between theTakbir and the recitation of Qur'an and that interval of silence used to be a short one. I said to the Prophet "May my parents be sacrificed for you! What do you say in the pause between Takbir and recitation?" The Prophet said, "I say, 'Allahumma, ba'id baini wa baina khatayaya kamaba'adta baina-l-mashriqi wa-l-maghrib. Allahumma, naqqim min khatayaya kama yunaqqa-ththawbu-l-abyadu mina-ddanas. Allahumma,ighsil khatayaya bil-ma'i wa-th-thalji wal-barad (O Allah! Set me apart from mysins (faults) as the East and West are set apart from each other and clean mefrom sins as a white garment is cleaned of dirt (after thorough washing). O Allah! Wash off my sins with water, snow and hail.)" (Sahih Bukhari 1.711)

It is important that what is said about Mohammed be drawn only from Muslim documents. The Qur’an and Hadiths give us information that is indisputable and must be accepted by Muslims if they want to remain Muslims. It is important to know that what is said here comes not from Christian sources, but Muslim sources. Read the following and realize the truth of these Muslim documents.

1. War is enjoined on Mohammed and his followers.“Those who believe do battle for the cause of Allah; and those who disbelieve do battle for the cause of idols. So fight the minions of the devil. Lo! the devil's strategy is ever weak.” (4:76Pickthall)“O Prophet! Exhort the believers to fight. If there be of you twenty steadfast they shall overcome two hundred, and if there be of you a hundred (steadfast) they shall overcome a thousand of those who disbelieve, because they (the disbelievers) are a folk without intelligence....It is not for any prophet to have captives until he hath made slaughter in the land. Ye desire the lure of this world and Allah desireth (for you) the Hereafter, and Allah is Mighty, Wise.” (8:65, 8:67 Pickthall)“Fight against such of those who have been given the Scripture as believe not in Allah nor the Last Day, and forbid not that which Allah hath forbidden by His messenger, and follow not the Religion of Truth, until they pay the tribute readily, being brought low.”(9:29)“O ye who believe! Fight those of the disbelievers who are near to you,and let them find harshness in you, and know that Allah is with those who keep their duty (unto Him). (9:123)“And if two parties of believers fall to fighting, then make peace between them. And if one party of them doeth wrong to the other, fight ye that which doeth wrong till it return unto the ordinance of Allah; then, if it return, make peace between them justly, and act equitably. Lo! Allah loveth the equitable.”? (49:9)

Conclusion: fighting is commanded for the Muslims. It may be war against the pagans, the Jews, the Christians, or even fellow Muslims who differ on some Islamic doctrine. The Sunnis and the Shia have been killing one another for a long time and they are still at it.

Mohammed’s life involved banditry in which he participated and he organized many other raids for his followers.

2. Mohammed’s sexuality.

A. There are many problems of character relating to his sexuality. One disturbing hadith is the following:“… So Um Salamah went and talked with the prophet but he did not respond to her. When the group asked her what the prophet said she told them that he did not respond. So they asked her to go talk to him again until he responds…then the prophet said to her, “Do not hurt me with Aisha, for the inspiration did not come upon me when I was IN A WOMAN’S GARMENT (fee thawb imra’ah) EXCEPTTHAT OF AISHA.” (Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith Number 2393)

Was Mohammed a cross-dresser? More alarming is the statement that inspiration came only when he was dressed in Aisha’s clothing. Is this the cause of his inspirations? Does this not sound like bogus claims?

B. Mohammed married a six year old girl and consummated the marriage when she was 9 years old.

Narrated Aisha: “The Prophet engaged me when I was a girl of six (years). We went to Medina and stayed at the home of Bani-al-Harith bin Khazraj. Then I got ill and myhair fell down. Later on my hair grew (again) and my mother, Um Ruman, came tome while I was playing in a swing with some of my girl friends. She called me, and I went to her, not knowing what she wanted to do to me. She caught me by the hand and made me stand at the door of the house. I was breathless then, and when my breathing became all right, she took some water and rubbed my face and head with it. Then she took me into the house. There in the house I saw some Ansari women who said, "Best wishes and Allah's Blessing and a goodluck." Then she entrusted me to them and they prepared me (for the marriage). Unexpectedly Allah's Apostle came to me in the forenoon and my mother handed me over to him, and at that time I was a girl of nine years of age.” (Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 5, Book 58, Number 234)

Mohammed’s example has been followed to the presen ttime by older men marrying girls who are 7 or 8 years of age. The problems of child marriage are serious (see here:http://almoltaqa.ps/english/showthread.php?p=50007a mass marriage of underage girls in Hamastan). I asked a gyn-ob doctor to speak abou tthe problems.? He wrote:

1. Psychological Risks...Children having children is something long eschewed in medicine. That situation is harmful to the mother because it deprives her of her childhood. Before she can learn about life and learn to appropriately react to life... i.e., to mature psychologically...she is prematurely placed in a very adult situation. Lifelong anger and resentment are very common, by my experience, and what acceptance that occurs here could best be described, not as acceptance, but rather by being beaten down and overwhelmed by these circumstances...not accepting but rather being forced to bear (no pun intended!). Parenting skills are much less nurturing and more unloving and uncaring, leaving the child's child's own emotional development in jeopardy.

2. Sexual Risks for children...menarche now occurs approximatelyat age 12. The physiological ability to become pregnant does not exist prior to this. The risks of sexual contact in prepubescence, say age 9 thru 11, occur asa result of low levels of estrogen. Normal as that is, vaginal trauma, such astearing of tissue, would be common until the vulvar and vaginal areas had been forcefully dilated. Even so, infections would be very common because of the inherent weakness of this estrogen deprived tissue. Cervical cancer is much more widespread and all the more so the younger the child.

3. Pregnancy Risks...children are, by their very definition, not mature physically. Presumably because of this, and regardless of good pre-natal care...and even worse without it...there is a risk of prematurity and/or lowbirth weight. This can be disastrous to the newborn, placing it at much higher risk of brain damage and mental retardation. Low birth weight babies are TWENTY times more likely to die the first year of life than normal newborns.. Because bone growth is not yet complete, the risk of cephalopelvic disproportion (too big a baby to get through mother's pelvic bones) is higher, leading to prolonged labors and subsequent infant damage and wastage. Presumably because of poor nutrition, teen mothers are more likely to abort, more likely to develop preelampsia and more likely to have serious accidents.

Preeclampsia and its ultimate form, eclampsia, is a disease peculiar to pregnancy. Preeclampsia is notable by increased blood pressure and loss of protein in urine (proteinuria)...if preclampsia worsens, as it usually does, it may develop into eclampsia, which adds seizures to the symptom complex. I have seen patients die from eclampsia. The only known treatment for the disease is delivery. Untreated, there is a high risk of fetal intrauterine death. The cause of the disease is still largely unknown.

The list of problems to children by the offence of premature sex and pregnancy is longer than I have presented, but this is probably enough fornow."C. Wives“So when Zeyd had performed that necessary formality (of divorce) from her, We gave her unto thee in marriage, so that (hence forth) there may be nosin for believers in respect of wives of their adopted sons, when the latter have performed the necessary formality (of release) from them. The commandmentof Allah must be fulfilled.” (33:37)

This reflects the story of Mohammed encountering Zaynab in partial dress and was greatly impressed by her. The episode seems driven by lust for her.“O Prophet! Lo! We have made lawful unto thee thy wives unto whom thou hast paid their dowries, and those whom thy right hand possesseth of those whom Allah hath given thee as spoils of war, and the daughters of thine uncle on the father's side and the daughters of thine aunts on the father's side, and the daughters of thine uncle on the mother's side and the daughters of thine aunt son the mother's side who emigrated with thee, and a believing woman if she give herself unto the Prophet and the Prophet desire to ask her in marriage - a privilege for thee only, not for the (rest of) believers - We are Aware of that which Ween joined upon them concerning their wives and those whom their right hands possess - that thou mayst be free from blame, for Allah is ever Forgiving, Merciful.”? (33.50)

This gives Mohammed virtually unlimited sex.

D.? Suckling“Narrated Ibn Shehab: when he was asked about adult suckling he said; Abe Hozaifa one of the companions of the messenger of God has adopted a boy named Salem, then when God descended a verse in his book concerning Zaied Ibn thabet abating the adoption saying: call them after their fathers (meaning tha tto attribute those adopted sons to their biological fathers) , Salma the wife of Abe Hozaifa came to the messenger of God saying: we had an adopted son named Salem, he was getting into my house while I was wearing one dress , after the adoption was abated , my husband? Abe Hozaifa hated to see him getting into my home, while I am in such way, so what do you think, how can I deal with that? The prophet replied her:then let him suck from you five times, and then hewill be forbidden to you (as it was thought that if one sucks from a woman,he will be like her son)? She said surprisingly: how could I suckle him while he is a full grown man? Then the prophet smiled and said: I know tha the is a full grown man. She went out and followed that advice and allowed the man to suck from her, she came back to the prophet saying I suckled him,now I don't find anything wrong with my husband any more (1)

The Adult suckling issue is among the subjects studied in Al-Azhar University for the students of the third grade (2)

Dr Abdul-Mahdy Abdul-Kader Abdul-Hady one o fAl-Azhar professors said about this: this converseis true and considered among the highly truthful converses , and can't bedenied by any honest researcher, it is considered a medal on the chest of Islam. ("Answeringskepticism on the Mohammedan Sunnah" by Dr Abdul-Mahdy Abdul-Kader Abdul-Hady, page.97.103) (Source)

E. Homosexuality“Man chapter (Surat Al-Insan) 19: "And round about them will serve boys of everlasting youth. If you see them, you would think them scattered pearls"?“And in the Event chapter (Surat Al-Waqi'ah) 17."They will be served by immortal boys"

“Ibn Kathir said: the boys are all the same, never getting older, never change, they are immortal and are youth for ever

Sheikh Muhammad Galal keshk said: the boys in the paradise are for sexual enjoyment, they resemble the "scattered pearls" while the"Hour Al-in "resemble the "preserved pearls", so they are of the same nature, as both are for sexual enjoyment" (9)

Mr; Ibrahim Mahmoud said: Sheikh Muhammad Galalkeshk is an eminent scholar, graduate of Al-Azhar university, he affirmed that the immortal boys are for the sexual enjoyment , as for the man who kept his chastity on earth, will have the right to enjoy in the paradise with all the lusts and desires he refrained from getting on earth (10) (9)

F. Sucking on the tongues of young boys and girls."Musnad Ahmad," Hadith number: 16245, Volume Title:?"The Sayings of the Syrians," Chapter Title:"Hadith of Mu'awiya Ibn Abu Sufyan," Narrated by Hisham Ibn Kasim, narrated by Huraiz, narrated by Abdul Rahman Ibn Abu Awf Al Jarashy, and narrated by Mua'wiya who said,"I saw the prophet (pbuh) sucking on the tongue or the lips of Al-Hassan son of Ali , may the prayers of Allah be upon him . For no tongue or lips that the prophet sucked on will be tormented (by hell fire)." (Source)

These and other comments from the hadiths cast a grave doubt about the integrity of the prophet. What may anger people is that these things are not generally known and the author of this work seems to ignore, or be ignorant in making the claim for the impeccable character of Mohammed.

The Holy BookThe Holy Book should have the following characteristics:It should identify God in names and attributes.It should show Humans the proper way of communicating with God.It should convey a message that does not contradict human intuition and accepted morals.It should guide humans to the right path for salvation that leads to paradise.It should warn Humans against evil acts that lead to hellfire.It should project a sense of purity and holiness.It should outline the divine standard that humans should follow.It should include overwhelming prophecies and scientific miracle as a continuous challenge to the unbelievers.

Only the Qur’an satisfies all of the above and more! The beauty and eloquence of the Qur’an resonates with the deepest aspirations of man to change his whole way of life. One feels that Allah authors every Ayah as it touches the heart and inspires the mind. The sensation of listening to the Qur’an is quite overwhelming. It feels that each Ayah descends from heaven with all the blessing of Allah to mankind, and recitation of the Qur’an in the original recitation style of the Prophet himself adds reverence to this sensation?Problems and QuestionsThe scientific miracles reflected in the Qur’anappear more like an imposition of scientific data on the text. In addition, the section on Embryology follows a familiar pattern of quoting the work of Dr.Keith Moore professor of Anatomy and Chairman of the department, Faculty ofMedicine, at the University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada, 1982. There seems to be a serious problem quoting Moore.“Professor Moore's book The Developing Human, 3rd edition, has two different editions: the standard edition which is used in the west, and the "Islamic" edition which is used in some Muslim colleges. Comparing the two editions, it seems that not even Prof. Moore is sufficiently convinced by the scientific"facts" in the Qu'ran to risk his reputation as a prominent academic in the Western world. The Islamic edition (also in the 3rd edition) ofhis textbook is not even available in the British Library, nor can it be found inthe US Library of Congress, nor in medical libraries in Western countries, presumably because he is aware that not only do the Islamic contributions to it contradict known science, but they also contradict what he himself has written in the standard version of his textbook. Perhaps Prof. Moore's desireto sell his textbooks overseas was greater than his desire to seek the scientific truth?” (One can read more here.)

There are problems with a number of these points,but I would focus on the following.? “It should convey a message that does not contradict human intuition and accepted morals.”

Whose intuition and accepted morals is the author referencing?

It is accepted a priori that Mohammed is the model man by Muslims. Whatever he did was not wrong. That is certainly contrary to my intuition and that of many others. Many of these things are contrary to reason. What is accepted in the Muslim culture as“right” is certainly wrong from that of non-Muslims. Child marriage, jihad against non-Muslims, polygamy, the demeaning position imposed on women, the secondary status of women’s rights, and much more are intuitively wrong as well as rationally wrong. But in a Muslim culture only the Qur’an and hadiths count.

From an objective stance Mohammed is not the example of a holy man, not a man of ethical purity. His wars, approved assassinations of his critics, his slaughter of the Jews in Medina, and other sinful activities do not fulfill the criteria of a holy prophet nor of a true religion.